The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 27, 1997, Page 4, Image 4
EDITOR Doug Kouma OPINION EDITOR Anthony Nguyen EDITORIAL BOARD Paula Lavigne Joshua GiUin Jessica Kennedy Jeff Randall Erin Gibson Our | | VIEW Scapegoat 101 No petty politics in matters of civil rights Discrimination is legal in Nebraska. And if some state senators have any thing to say about it, that’s the way it will stay. A bill currently before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, LB280, would outlaw same-sex marriages in Nebraska and would not recognize those performed in any other state. That’s unfair and just plain wrong — or as one concerned father said last week at the bill’s committee hearing: “LB280 is gay bashing with a legal club.” Supporters cite biblical examples and decry die breakup of the American family in urging the bill’s passage. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jim Jensen of Omaha, said last week: “Marriage is the bond that keeps the family together, and I’m deeply concerned about marriage and the family.” That’s right on track, senator. But it’s a shame you only extend that concern to your heterosexual constituents. It is the height of political irresponsi bility to preach that recognizing committed relationships among gays and lesbians is somehow contrary to “family values.” Even Doug Patton, the director of the Nebraska Christian Coalition, conceded to Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha that same-sex mar riages would not negatively impact hetero sexual couples. a 3u-percent divorce rate, unplanned pregnancies. Drugs and violence in public schools. An educational system falling into disarray. Inner cities in economic ruin. Those are some of th| ^al ^ppo^Ieins facing America's families. > And LB280 is the best Nebraska’s lead ers can come up with? That’s called political scapegoatism, and there should be no place for that within the government of this state. Other supporters of the bill recall bibli cal passages, particularly from the Book of Leviticus, denouncing same-sex unions. That’s ancient Hebrew law—hardly a code upon which to build modem laws. If it is, then by all means let’s not just pick and choose those passages convenient to our cause. Let’s get serious about it. Let’s le galize polygamy. Legalize slavery. Ban poly cotton blends. Ban ham and bacon and lob ster. Pull Noxema from the shelves. LB280 is pure politics, and bad politics at that. What makes it even worse is that it comes at the expense of some Nebraskans’ civil rights. But the Legislature has an opportunity to show the pioneering spirit of this state by passing Chambers’ LB407, which would legalize same-sex marriages in Nebraska. Where civil rights are concerned, there is no room for petty politics. ' Or at least there shouldn’t be. The Judiciary Committee — and the Legislature as a whole, if either bill gets that far—should reject LB280 and pass LB407 and support the rights of all Nebraskans. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Spring 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Univer sity of Nebraska-Lincoln, its employees, its student body or the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. A column is solely the opinion of its author. The Board of Regents serves as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Edito rial Board. The UNL Publications Board, established by the regents, supervises the production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibili ty for the edi torial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its student employees. Letter Policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief let ters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Sub mitted material becomes the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re turned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affilia tion, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R SL Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. E-mail: letters@unlinfo.unl.edu. Mehsling’s VIEW Kwww...rv\e Good'Oi tM. Anne HJERSMAN Death before life Justice blind to 'viability of the unborn Zachary Taylor Griesemer never had a chance. He never had a chance to coo his first word, or teeter around on wobbly, little legs, or play peek-a boo. He will never know what it feels like to fall in love, or to giggle uncontrollably with a best friend. He will never own a puppy. He will never skip. He will never run. He will never sing. He will never hum. He will never learn how to snap his fingers or whistle a tune. He will never believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny. He will never know the world outside his mother’s womb. And he will never know the dreams that died with him the day a drunken driver crashed into his mother’s car and fatally wounded her, leaving Zachary’s father without a wife or a son. Less than a month from birth, probably had a bedroom with a crib, some clothes, a changing table and toys. His mother and father probably u Now all that Zachary's father has to show for his son's brief life is a birth certificate, a baptismal certificate and a death certificate, issued on the same date — and lots of timeless, shattered dreams." had begun to fantasize about whom their son would become — what his talents would be. They had certainly imagined what he would lode like, whose eyes he would have, which side of the family he would most resemble. This little person already had quite a life — loving parents and all kinds of potential. But he was robbed of that by a 24-year-old man who chose to drive while he was under the influence of alcohol. And then little Zachary was robbed of his humanity by a Ne braska statute that says he was not really a person — and thus, not a victim of homicide — because he had not been bom at the time of the accident. He was delivered by Caesarean section at the hospital shortly afterward but died several hours later. Now all that Zachary’s father has to show for his son’s brief life is a birth certificate, a baptismal certificate and a death certificate, issued on the same date — and lots of timeless, shattered dreams. He is left to grieve the loss of both the son he never knew and the woman he loved more than anyone in the world. But when the man who killed them goes to trial on Dec. 20, he will be charged with only one death. Zachary’s death will go unrecog nized by the state of Nebraska, though it will not be forgotten by those who loved him. To say this “fetus” was “viable” is an understatement — to say he wasn’t is a cold, sterile, tragic mistake. Surely the legislators of this state can recognize that, even if the law as it is now refuses to recognize the life of Zachary Taylor Griesemer. Hjersman is a senior news editorial and English major and the night editor and a columnist for the Daily Nebraskan. V/ ■ * "■ ' ““,f~"' . . —